

b riends Oither and Yon 




^ Poems hv 


^^ 


^B L. K. S. Barnard 







COPYRIGHT DEPOSH^ 



fmnii» fiitijer anir Bon 



POEMS BY 



L. F. S. BARNARD 




Boston : Richard G. Badger 
1904 



o 



Copyright, 1904, by L. F. S. Barnard 
All Rights Reserved 



LIBRARY Of CONGRESS 

Two C«pies Received 

APR 19 1904 

Copyriffht Entry 

CLASS ^ XXo. No. 

g- W- e t. L 
COPY B 






Printed at 

The G or ham Press 

Boston, U.S.A. 



CONTENTS 








PAGE 


Friends Hither and Yon .... 5 


Friendship 






6 


Love is the Key 






7 


The Chord Responsive 






8 


My Friend of All 






9 


Lifting the Veil 






10 


Friends Indeed 






11 


For Friendship's Sake 






12 


Without a Friend 






13 


Some One Remembers Me 






14 


Mine Forever . 






15 


To the Dying . 






16 


Parted .... 






17 


'Tis Night Brings Back Our Dead 




18 


Friends Beyond 






19 



/ 



FRIENDS HITHER AND YON 

To friends hither and yon I greeting giVe;^ 
To those on earth, to those above, who live 

In realms unknown, I stretch my hand ; 
'Tis long perhaps since in each other's eyes 
We sought the love that we had learned to prize, 

And yet, and yet we understand. 

We understand that death can never part, 
That life may separate awhile, yet heart 

Can never lose what it has gained ; 
That some day we shall stand as long before, 
Friends reunited, dearer than of yore. 

And all our highest hopes attained. 

Till then we dream of these bright days to be, 
When we shall face to face each other see ; 

These friends that ever and anon 
Come to our sight, or through our memory drift, 
We'll see them all when Death the veil shall lift, 

These friends beloved hither and yon. 



FRIENDSHIP 

A strange, strange thing it seems to me 
Is friendship, — this I know, — 

Life has no gap, I do not see 
That earth can more bestow. 

When suddenly eyes look in mine, 

And hands are closely clasped. 
Heart makes to heart some well-known sign. 

New life each form has grasped. 

Henceforth from dawn till day is done, 

Through every season's change. 
Our hearts shall beat almost as one, 

And yet it seems so strange ! 



LOVE IS THE KEY 

Love is the key to every human heart ; 

Try it, and you will find 
That when the lid shall from the casket part 

Rich gems are hid behind ; 
Long hidden till the rightful key w^as found, 

In shapes long since forgot, 
Yet still existing in these depths, still sound, 

Without a flaw or spot. 

Brought to the sunlight, what a w^ealth is there 

To dazzle and amaze ; 
This ruby wondrous, and this pearl so fair. 

This diamond's lasting blaze ; 
Who would have dreamed it? that this casket 
plain 

Was heaping to the brim 
With jewels rare, and many a sparkling chain. 

Whose glow made eyes grow dim? 

Wealth in profusion, freely to be won 

By him who has the key ; 
Jewels of radiance surpassed by none, 

Who loves such gems to see? 
And yet, the lock cannot be forced ; in vain 

Shall robber try his art, 
No other key than Love can entrance gain 

Into the human heart. 



THE CHORD RESPONSIVE 

There is a chord responsive in the heart, 

Which yields to tender touch, 
And into sweetest melody will start, 

Who has not listened such? 
No clumsy fingers e'er can touch the strings 

Which waken it to sound, 
But only he who knows the hidden springs 

Can stir the depths profound. 

'Tis when the master-touch has found the song. 

And set the music free, 
There comes a sweetness which shall linger long. 

And ne'er forgotten be ; 
Unto our anxious souls it seems sublime, 

So deep the help it brings. 
The human heart is helper for all time 

To him who knows the springs. 

And would you know its music ? let it heal 

The wounds that life has made? 
Then nourish sympathy for all that feel. 

And it shall you persuade 
There is a chord responsive in the heart. 

Though it be mute for long. 
And he who knows the hidden springs to start 

May listen to its song. 



MY FRIEND OF ALL 

He whom my silence entertains 

Is my best friend of all, 
He holds my love, but without chains, 

His presence ne'er can pall ; 
I love him, yet need not repeat 

This saying o'er and o'er, 
*Tis always with a smile we meet, 

He does not ask for more. 

In grief, he leaves me quite alone 

Till saddest tears are shed, 
He does not o'er my lot bemoan. 

Nor hang about my bed ; 
But when the sorrow lighter grows 

Then comes he back to me. 
Making no reference to my woes, 

Yet more than kind is he. 

He joins me in my joyful days, 

His laugh then does me good. 
Full many a jesting word he says 

To suit my happy mood ; 
And bonds, that stronger are than chains, 

Him in my heart install. 
For whom my silence entertains 

Is my best friend of all. 



LIFTING THE VEIL 

If thou wouldst gain a friend's esteem, 

If thou wouldst hold it fast, 
Or have his eye upon you beam 

With love that e'er shall last, 
Oh, w^hen by all but thee forsook, 

Then soothe him without fail. 
But from his heart's most sacred nook 

Dare not to lift the veil. 

Guess not his hidden, inmost thought. 

Watch not his every move. 
Seek not the past deeds he has wrought, 

Thy love for him let prove 
That thou canst see his well-loved cheek 

Grow thin, or often pale. 
Yet venture not of it to speak, 

Nor dare to lift the veil. 

He, if thou provest good and true. 

Will draw thee to his breast. 
And give thy lips their loving due. 

As his on thine are pressed. 
His heart will leap unto thine own. 

His thoughts their bloom exhale. 
And then to thee, to thee alone. 

He will lift up the veil. 



10 



FRIENDS INDEED 

Blessings on those whose faces cheer, 
Whose hearts are always gay, 

Whose words are loving and sincere. 
Whose youth knows not decay ; 

Whatever be their creed, 

These are my friends indeed. 

Blessings on them for they can give 
A strength to fainting hearts, 

A tonic that shall make them live, 
And still pain's sudden darts ; 

Whatever be their creed, 

These are my friends indeed. 

Blessings on them for they can lend 

A smile to all they meet. 
It matters not if stranger, friend, 

The smile is welcome, sweet ; 
Whatever be their creed. 
These are my friends indeed. 



11 



FOR FRIENDSHIPS SAKE 

For friendship's sake I must all things endure, 

And all things pardon, that the bond survive ; 

Though its dear chains of leisure me deprive, 

Or hide my merits in a nook obscure, — 

Yet still I keep the tie close and secure. 

From this, the best of all things, I derive 

A strength of heart which makes my being thrive, 

And renders earthly life of comfort sure. 

I will forgive the little deeds that fret. 

The stinging word which makes my heart to ache, 

My own like sins I number with regret, — 

The quick, sharp phrase that I with rancor spake, 

O friends, my thoughtless murmuring forget, 

'Tis much we should forgive for friendship's sake. 



13 



WITHOUT A FRIEND 

Without a friend how lonely earth would be ! 
From its dark limits I should long to flee, 
And seek some other sphere, distant, unknown, 
Where heart might keep its flesh nor change to 

stone. 
Where eyes might loving smiles and glances see ! 

Nor storms, nor grievous winds should frighten 

me ! 
Nor would I listen unto Fate's decree ; 
What would be worth the richest monarch's throne 

Without a friend? 

I would sail on to lands from such woe free, 
To doubtful charts my brain would find a key. 
And by rough winds, or kindly, seek a zone 
Where friendship would for greatest ill atone ; 
For never yet could heart make jubilee 

Without a friend. 



13 



SOME ONE REMEMBERS ME 

There is a pleasure in the thought, 

" Some one remembers me," 
A warmth unto my heart is brought 

Though small the token be, 
My step grows lighter for the joy 

Around me hovering. 
And though hard tasks my hands employ 

In happy mood I sing. 

A sense of bliss I can't express 

Surrounds me all day long. 
Such merry visions come to bless 

The burden of my song, 
All evil shuns to-day my path. 

No enemy I see. 
This comes to silence sudden wratn, 

*' Some one remembers me." 

O blessed tie that closely binds 

Our hearts in friendship true, 
What bliss within it each one finds, 

Though greetings may be few. 
The darkest day in sorrow spent 

Is changed to jubilee, 
If, ere the evening sun's descent, 

Some one remembers me. 



U 



MINE FOREVER 

Down in my heart of hearts I take but few, 

Sealed to me ever, 
By storm and time oft tried and yet proved true, 

Mine, mine forever; 
I cannot yield them more than they deserve 
Of love and duty ; proud am I to serve ; 
Beyond all measure 
My depth of treasure. 

Sometimes within my heart there comes the 
thought, 

'' Should aught us sever?" 
Unworthy am I, has the Past not taught 

They're mine forever? 
Mine as the sunshine and the breeze are mine, 
Mine as the gift of God, precious, divine ; 
To part with never, 
But mine forever. 

And far above the realm of pain and sin. 

And earthly blunder, 
I'm lifted by the wealth of love within. 

This lasting wonder ; 
Deep in my heart of hearts I take but few. 
By storm and time oft tried and yet proved true. 
Sealed to me ever. 
Mine, mine forever. 



16 



TO THE DYING 

Dear friends, unto a distant country going, 

Fear not, for all is well. 
Though gently now the stream of life is flowing 

Forth from its citadel ; 
We stand beside your heated pillows believing 

That all is for the best. 
That from the suffering days that you are leaving 

You enter into rest. 

We check the tear that to our eyes is springing, 

We smile upon you now, 
And songs of cheer to you we're brightly singing 

The while we bathe your brow ; 
We dare not show the slightest sign of grieving 

For fear that you may see. 
But every moment we would spend relieving 

The pain that now must be. 

To-morrow, when in tranquil rest you're sleeping, 

In peace we may not know. 
Then o'er your pillow we'll be bending, weeping, 

We need not hide our woe ; 
Yet while you linger we conceal our sorrow. 

You are with us to-day. 
But oh, the loneliness of that to-morrow 

When you have gone for aye ! 



16 



PARTED 

Dear heart, I loved you so, 

That when you turned to go. 
Away from earthly scenes that held you dear, 

You took with you some part 

Of this I called my heart, 
Which henceforth by your side must linger near. 

'Twill never more return. 

And oftentimes I yearn 
To follow after this gone on before ; 

Yet here I still remain, 

Hoping ere long to gain 
The friend who waits me on the further shore. 

Days pass, and so must years, 

Gone longtime are my fears. 
My eyes are turned toward bright lands afar ; 

For since you turned to go. 

Dear heart, I loved you so, 
I long to follow you where'er you are. 



17 



'TIS NIGHT BRINGS BACK OUR DEAD 

The night brings back to us our dead, 

Close to the aching heart ; 
Their presence brings no fear, no dread, 

But doth sweet peace impart ; 
Be it in dream, or waking thought. 

We greet each welcome guest. 
This is a boon we long have sought. 

To clasp them to our breast. 

Before the eye-lid droops in sleep. 

Wander our thoughts away 
To those who no more vigils keep 

In weary frames of clay ; 
We then recall the well-loved face. 

The limpid, truthful eyes. 
Which made the earth a pleasant place. 

Which cloudless made our skies. 

But most in dreams they come to me. 

Nor seems it even strange 
To meet as ever, fond and free. 

And loving thoughts exchange ; 
I wake, — and lo ! 'tis dawning day. 

The dear-loved friends have fled. 
For Morning takes their forms away, 

'Tis Night brings back our dead. 



18 



FRIENDS BEYOND 

To-night I grieve because my friends do go 
Before me to that land, of which I know 
Naught, save that loved ones ne'er return; 
I feel so lonely as each name I hear 
Called off to journey to another sphere 
Whose beauties I may not discern. 

Sometimes I fear I may be left alone. 
With no one near that in the past I've known, 
Not one who knew me as a child ; 
A stranger I shall be upon this earth, 
With not a sound of friendliness or mirth, 
While I shall feel as if exiled. 

Yet when the day shall come for me to go. 
To follow dear ones that I used to know. 
Then I shall look for greeting fond ; 
With hands outstretched I shall the call obey, 
To pass to those who wait across the way, 
I shall be glad of friends beyond. 



19 



